Brazil decision to keep rates on hold raises questions of independence
Jan 21, 2016 18:01 pm UTC| Commentary Central Banks
Banco Central do Brasil (BCB) surprisingly left rates unchanged at 14.25% at yesterdays monetary policy meeting. The expectation had been for a rate hike of 50bp. The decision raises questions regarding the central banks...
PBoC's massive cash injection signaling reduced RRR cuts?
Jan 21, 2016 15:03 pm UTC| Commentary Central Banks
In todays money market activity, the PBOC injected 290 bn yuan through 28 day reverse repos and 110 bn yuan through 7-day reverse repos, the largest seen in 3 years. Could we consider this as a signal that the central bank...
BOJ's Monetary Policy - Negative Interest Rates or QE Expansion?
Jan 21, 2016 14:35 pm UTC| Commentary Central Banks
The BOJ has kept monetary policy steady since expanding its massive stimulus programme in October 2014. But concerns about inflation moving further away from its 2 percent target on account of falling oil prices is raising...
Bank Negara Malaysia likely to maintain a moderately dovish stance
Jan 21, 2016 12:27 pm UTC| Commentary Central Banks
Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) kept the policy rate unchanged at 3.25 percent, in line with the consensus. However, to ensure sufficient liquidity in the financial system the central bank reduced the statutory reserve...
Central Bank’s of Hungary and Poland likely to cut rates in March Meeting
Jan 21, 2016 12:02 pm UTC| Commentary Central Banks
Hungarys policymakers have suggested that there is no requirement for further rate cuts, as unconventional easing is unlikely to bring major benefits when it comes to supporting growth. The central bank estimates 1.7%...
PBoC seen maintaining accommodative monetary policy stance
Jan 21, 2016 10:13 am UTC| Commentary Central Banks
PBoCs recently increased its liquidity as it injected CNY600bn via medium-term lending facility (MLF) on Tuesday, followed by another CNY150bn liquidity injection via short-term liquidity operation (SLO) and CNY400bn via...
Yen boosted by trade balance but edgy on BoJ’s policy outlook
Jan 21, 2016 09:56 am UTC| Insights & Views Central Banks
Japanese current account surplus: The major transformation in macroeconomic fundamentals of yen is the current account balance improvement. It reached 13.1trn in the first nine months of the year, significantly...
Johannesburg in a time of darkness: Ivan Vladislavić’s new memoir reminds us of the city’s fragility
Labour can afford to be far more ambitious with its economic policies – voters are on board
Sudan: civil war stretches into a second year with no end in sight